BK Butler Audio

BK Butler Audio

Also known as: Butler Audio, B.K. Butler, BK Butler, BK Butler Tube Driver

Unclaimed

BK Butler Audio is a vacuum tube audio company founded by Brent K. Butler, based in Denver, Colorado. Butler began developing tube-based overdrive circuits in the mid-1970s, initially inspired by the sound of Hammond organ through tube amplification. In 1979 he released his first official Tube Driver under the Butronics name, and the iconic 4-knob Tube Driver circuit was designed in 1983. Throu...

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BK Butler Audio is a vacuum tube audio company founded by Brent K. Butler, based in Denver, Colorado. Butler began developing tube-based overdrive circuits in the mid-1970s, initially inspired by the sound of Hammond organ through tube amplification. In 1979 he released his first official Tube Driver under the Butronics name, and the iconic 4-knob Tube Driver circuit was designed in 1983. Through the 1980s the pedals were distributed through Chandler Industries, and Butler later ran Tube Works before reclaiming the TubeDriver trademark in 2000.

The company is best known for the hand-built Tube Driver, a 12AX7-powered overdrive pedal that has become a sought-after piece of gear among guitarists for its warm, dynamic tube saturation. Butler personally builds and signs each unit from his Colorado workshop, offering both the standard 4-knob version and a 5-knob "Real Deal" model with a bias control. Other trademarks in the Butler Audio family include TubeDriver BLUE, Thermionic, MosValve, and Blue Tube.

Beyond guitar effects, Butler Audio has expanded into consumer audio with tube-hybrid amplification products, including the TDB-series car audio amplifiers, TDB home theater amplifiers, and the MONAD A100 Class-A monoblock. The Tube Driver circuit has a long association with players such as Eric Johnson, David Gilmour, and Billy Gibbons, who helped cement its reputation as a tube overdrive standard.

BK Butler Audio has 2 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Overdrive Effects Pedals. Their gear is featured by 14 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Pop, and Folk, World, & Country. Notable users include David Gilmour, J Mascis, and Eric Johnson.

Artists Who Use BK Butler Audio

David Gilmour uses 1 BK Butler Audio product

David Gilmour

Guitarist · Pink Floyd

J Mascis uses 1 BK Butler Audio product

J Mascis

Singer, Guitarist · Dinosaur Jr

Eric Johnson uses 1 BK Butler Audio product

Eric Johnson

Singer, Guitarist · The G3 Jam

Keith Urban uses 1 BK Butler Audio product

Keith Urban

Guitarist, Bassist · Artists of Then, Now & Forever

Andy Timmons uses 1 BK Butler Audio product

Andy Timmons

Guitarist · Danger Danger

Kenny Wayne Shepherd uses 1 BK Butler Audio product

Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Guitarist · The G3 Jam

Brad Whitford uses 1 BK Butler Audio product

Brad Whitford

Guitarist · Hollywood Vampires

Cory Hanson uses 1 BK Butler Audio product

Cory Hanson

Singer, Guitarist · Wand

Joe Preston uses 1 BK Butler Audio product

Joe Preston

Bassist · Melvins

Craig Goldy uses 1 BK Butler Audio product

Craig Goldy

Guitarist · Dio

Lachy Doley uses 1 BK Butler Audio product

Lachy Doley

Keyboardist

Jack Oblivian uses 1 BK Butler Audio product

Jack Oblivian

Singer, Guitarist · Oblivians

Tommy Niemeyer uses 1 BK Butler Audio product

Tommy Niemeyer

Guitarist · Gruntruck

Tucker Roundtree uses 1 BK Butler Audio product

Tucker Roundtree

Guitarist

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